Tamsin Greig to Star in WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN in the West End This Winter; Bartlett Sher to Return in Director's Chair

The Daily Mail writes that Tamsin Greig will star in the West End in WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, based on Pedro Almodovar's 1988 film. Bartlett Sher returns in the director's chair for the production -- he helmed the Broadway cast in 2010. 'BREAKDOWN' begins previews at the Playhouse Theatre on December 20, with an opening slated for January 12, 2015.

"...to allow women of this generation to have voices and talk about how they feel, or sing about it, was a factor. It doesn't emasculate men, but it celebrates women," Tamsin said of her decision to join the musical comedy.

The musical as been "recalibrated" since its Broadway outing, with help from creators Jeffrey Lane and David Yazbek in paring down the scale of the band, sets and costumes, as well as restructuring the book.

'BREAKDOWN' has seen a couple of workshops with Tamsin in the lead as 'Pepa', a Spanish voiceover actress who becomes unbalanced after her lover Ivan leaves her for another woman.

On Broadway, the musical starred Sherie Rene Scott, Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti and Brian Stokes Mitchell. It ended up closing early after 30 previews and 69 regular performances due to low ticket sales. Nevertheless, the show was nominated for three 2011 Tony Awards, including Best Original Score and Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role for both LuPone and Benanti.

Greig won an Olivier Award for her performance as 'Beatrice' in Much Ado About Nothing in 2006 and 2007 with the Royal Shakespeare Company. In 2008, the actress starred in The God of Carnage at the Gielgud, followed by Gethsemane at the National Theatre and in a subsequent UK tour. She also starred in The Little Dog Laughed at the Garrick in 2010; she earned her second Olivier nomination for Best Actress for her portrayal of 'Diane'. She starred in Jumpy at the Royal Court and the Duke of York's Theatre in 2011 and last appeared at the Hampstead in Longing in 2013.

She will next be seen on the big screen in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2 and Breaking the Bank. Among her TV credits are Episodes, Friday Night Dinner, White Heat, Love Soup, Green Wing, Black Books and more.